I've been lusting after a Chicago Cutlery folding kitchen knife. Problem is, they don't make 'em anymore and they are going for $60 or better on ebay. Does anybody know of another folding kitchen knife that would be less, or have you found a good substitute? I'm most interested in something that folds because it will prevent cutting myself in the dark and needs less room for storage. I tried just using a big pocket knife, but blade length is a bit short.

Stewart, I have been using a Santoku knife for camping for several years now. Of course it doesn't fold and it is big and sharp so I built a sheath for it to protect both me and the blade. Unless you are backpacking this thing is sweet! It is sharp enough for the usual peeling and slicing duties around camp and heavy enough to be used as a light cleaver. And long enough that it can do much more than a lesser blade. In addition it is wide enough that you can scoop up stuff that you have already sliced and diced. The only thing it doesn't seem to do is slice bread but I have a nice Victornox bread knife for that.

Take a look at the Santoku and see if it would work for your camping. If not it is still a great addition to your kitchen.

I looked at Santoku knives on Amazon. The first one I saw was over $100, then I saw some $10 ones... and they had sheaths. The colored ones are weird, but it's really not that bad. Might be a good idea, and at price that won't make me feel like I'm wasting money. I just won't get as much use out of it, or appreciate it enough to want to pony up for a better one.

I'd love to eat a meal that either of you guys made in camp, but I don't think you'd feel the same way about my meals. I'm not much of a camping cooker, but a decent all-purpose cooking knife is missing from my gear. Thanks for the input

I can't imagine a genuine Santoku for $10 on Amazon. I'd be very skeptical. One thing I'd do is closely check out the many knives in thrift stores. My brother found a Henckle bread knife thrown into a box at a thrift store. He bought it for $5. It would retail for ~$130.

If a non folding knife would work the Victornox series of kitchen cutlery are an exceptionally good value and out perform knives costing many times more. Readily available and exceptionally functional.

Spend the $100 and get yourself a old Sabatier carbon steel 10" off eBay or a quality cutlery shop (good knife shops aren't found in malls, just so you know). They look ugly as hell, but they will take an edge that you can shave with.

Well, when it comes to price, you just have to look at the quality. Santoku is a style, not a brand (at least I thought so). I have a couple nicer Santoku knives that I love to death (and weren't cheap, even getting them at "cost").

I agree, thrift shops are fantastic! Especially if you get into ones in nicer neighborhoods. Know people that want to toss out a knife if it's dull. Quick hit on the stone and it's nice and sharp again. But agree, if you find one "cheap" on Amazon, chances are it's just that, CHEAP!

Picked up a "Chinese" knife in china town a few years back. Its basically a small cleaver. about 9 inches by 4 inches. Keeps a tight edge and can slice chop, hack like a cleaver and double as a spatula.

The Mrs and kids don't like it 'cause its too big, so they don't jack it up.

My "go to" knife's a small Chinese cleaver from the Wok Shop in SF. Carbon steel and sharp as a scalpel. Easy to handle, easy to maintain, great for slicing & dicing, but it won't work as a fillet knife.